CV Gus

I remember in a 1983 CV/5200 comparison something like this was mentioned. The earlier 5200s had four ports, as you mentioned, but also had inferior sound to later models and apparently 2600 adapters were troublesome. I could look in that old magazine to be sure if you'd like.

1) Digital controllers. That makes a huge difference; the one I built has enabled me to reach much higher scores. 2) Atari computer to 5200 games. Since the 5200 was an Atari 400 (that's what I usually heard) computer, this would have greatly expanded its library: Drol, Flip and Flop, Boulder Dash etc... 3) Paddle controllers, able to move vertically for gear shifts in games like Pole Position; or a switch to do this. 4) The unreleased games, like Tempest, Millipede, Super Pac-Man, etc. 5) MORE TIME. 18 months and then being abandoned? Even the 7800 got more time than that!

There's one serious problem, though: page VI-15 is missing (the flow chart section; Sheet . Does anyone have it?

Now THIS is what I've been looking for! Thanks so much!!! I simply must get those relays for my 9-Pin to 5200 module- it'll allow you to use a CV controller on a 5200, as well as the 2600 paddle controllers. When (if) I ever get the parts and build it, be assured the plans will be posted in the equivalent thread for the 5200.

Welcome!

I still do not believe the "glut" theory. Especially since video gaming still lives on even in 2012- the Internet era. The whole idea behind the glut theory is that loads of awful games super-saturated the market and so caused the industry to collapse. The main flaw with this theory is that it assumes that the consumer dollar was evenly spread among all of the games. Had this been so, then yes, it would be true. But then EVERY industry should have collapsed. The movie industry, the music industry, the home videotape and later DVD industry should have collapsed long before. The reality is is that gamers did NOT spend their money that way. Same as anything else. And in spite of the Internet, Netflix, cell phones, IPods and IPads, and all of the other money and time-grabbing elements of today- that did not exist in 1984 in any significant way, video games live on. Look at all of the many game platforms of the mid-1990s, and the many-many games that were there; why was there no collapse? The 1984 collapse happened because of idiot "experts" who were convinced that "video gaming is dead; computers are the future." The industry believed them and did not ask gamers, and so committed suicide. Nintendo did not listen to them, and so succeeded just a couple of years later. This is why the Tramiels had shelved the 1984 Atari 7800 and did not even try until the NES held a huge market and it was obvious the "experts" were wrong- although they still chanted their mantra for decades afterwards.

Popeye. For non-SGM games, though- I know this is silly, but- "got it right" versions of Mr. Do! and Space Fury would be nice.

Man, I've been away too long. Just got back from gooddealgames, and there are so many new CV games, not to mention Opcode's DK super version, and Side Trak. Is Bagman available yet? If so, where?

Hopefully, I'll be able to afford them. Someday.

FYI, the 7800 also allows you to play Robotron with either one or two controllers. Mitch You cannot stand still and fire with one controller in the 7800 version; you can with the 5200 version.

Here it is:

How could I have left out Star Raiders, Defender, and Robotron: 2084? The ability to stand still and fire with one controller, the explosions, and the sound are advantages over the 7800 version (which is really good). With digital controllers, the games were 100% better. I will maintain to my last day that Atari should not have dumped it in 1984. It was an incredibly stupid move, and for once something that could not be blamed on the Tramiels. Even so, when he swept the old Atari stuff off of that table, I wish a 5200 had landed with its corner on his foot...

Would 300 DPI do? I'll try to upload it later today.

Sky Jaguar and Bump `N Jump would be useful to look at, especially since the CV is better at vertical scrolling than horizontal.

No more putting off such good things. Even I can afford $5.00 (just barely), so- count me in!

My reasons: Centipede. Beats the 7800 version. Berzerk. It talks, and is 97% arcade version! My favorite still. Qix. Su-PERB! Pengo. Would Burgess Meredith have liked this one? Gyruss. Miner 2049er. Space Dungeon. Super Breakout- but only if with paddle controlers. Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man. Although no match for Opcode's CV versions, these are still so nifty. Baseball. It's also easier making custom controllers for it, as long as you can get the parts.

Moon Cresta was one of my favorite Space Invaders-style games. I would always play this one at the Dream machine arcade, as well as the "super" version I stumbled across in England. So I would absolutely be interested in this one! As for Crazy Climber- I would definitely recommend three options: 1 joystick, 2 joysticks without the RC (building a holder is easy, and RCs are a bit hard to find), and 2 joysticks with one. My own RC malfunctioned a while back, and playing the 2-joystick option that way would not have been possible until I was able to repair it. I must stop by here more often. Money's been a serious problem lately, though.

I remember this game in the arcades. This looks good- are you sure paddles cannot be used?

Some reasons to own a 7800: Dig Dug Robotron: 2084, although I somewhat prefer the 5200 version. Xevious Pole Position JOUST! Food Fight. Sure, it looks much like a 2600 Activision game, but it's really fun. Asteroids Ms. Pac-Man. Although the 5200 version is close and the CV version better, the 7800 version is good.

First of all, much of my knowledge relates to the Atari 5200, oddly enough... But I can't seem to find any actual schematics about the CPU chip- to test it, I need to know the logic gates of the Z80 CPU; anyone here know where to look? The ones for the CV Roller Controller were very clear, and so I was able to repair it (it was a gate that always stayed "on" instead of flickering when the roller was used). My testing equipment is an ancient multitester and a weird red/green LED light tester built from wooden rods, nails, and old wire and LEDs from a 1970's broken VCR... Thanks.

I never said I wasn't going to test anything, just if someone could narrow it down for me. It took me some time to trace the circuits in the 5200 before I was able to guess what the problem was (turned out I was right). Thanks. I'll check the schematics for it, and try it out.

As I did with the Roller Controller. But with the sort of equipment I have to test things with, it would take a long time- even with good schematics- to track down this particular problem. It did not seem unreasonable to assume, like with the infamous "autostart" problem, that there would likely be a particular cause of this and someone could at least narrow it down ("it is probably the SN555-5555 chip").

Well, my CV is malfunctioning. When you switch it on, all you get is a black screen and a sort of high-pitched hum. No COLECOVISION, and no message if you leave out the cartridge. It's the same either way. However, the 2600 module works fine. If anyone here can pinpoint the problem so I don't have to test anything, that would be a great timesaver. Thanks.

That is beautiful, and if I didn't already have an Intellivision, I'd get it. maybe, if I ever get the money, I still will. Do you think you could put either Space Spartans or B-17 Bomber on the CV, maybe with "message tags" if voice is not practical? The CV does need a good first-person shooter. I'll tell you- if ever I can get out of this financial rut I'm stuck in, I'll celebrate by buying several homebrews. Superb work!

If ever there was a subjective thing, this is it... I'm assuming you mean at the present. To me, it would be the CV, but it's close. One of the advantages the 5200 had over the CV has been countered in part by the homebrewers; games like Pac-Man, Space Invaders, Ms. Pac-Man, and Mario Bros. are now on the CV, with better versions. As far as I know, though, 5200 homebrewers are now on the move, so this advantage is not as great as it once was. Atari itself did not help: Galaxian is better on the CV, as its own Pac-Man, Dig Dug, Moon Patrol, and Joust would all clearly have been. The CV also has the advantage with RPGs, the 5200 still doesn't have enough to overcome the CV. However, with games like Star Raiders, the 5200 still has a clear advantage for first-person shooters. Dambusters doesn't come close, even the Intellivision beats the CV here. This leaves the games that appear on one but not the other. Berzerk, Robotron: 2084, Super Pac-Man, Millipede, Qix, Pole Position, Super Breakout, and others for the 5200; Ladybug, Pepper 2, Bump ` N Jump, Frenzy, Turbo, Space Panic, and others for the CV. As in 1982, one thing has not changed: the CV is still King of the Obscure Games, while the 5200 had more of the most popular. So to me, it's still the CV, but it's really pretty close. No 5200 game has what Space Panic, Turbo, and Pepper 2 has, while no CV game has what Qix and Robotron: 2084- as well as Star Raiders- has. There's a reason why I've gone through so much trouble to get and keep the 5200 running. I used to like all of those arcade games back in the day, and only with both systems do I now have them all to play; neither system can do it alone.